The Good Book Is Good Biz

In the thriving business of Bible publishing, the lone calligrapher in his scriptorium has been superseded by marketing execs armed with PowerPoint. About 25 million Bibles were sold this year in America, reports the Los Angeles Times—that's 11 million more than the latest Harry Potter installment. But since the content stays the same, the dressing has to keep changing.

Leading publisher Zondervan, owned by HarperCollins, targets specific groups—teenagers, newlyweds, recovered alcoholics—with new designs and specialized commentary. Since a third of Bibles are purchased as gifts, Zondervan has one for every occasion; their sorority rush edition does particularly well. "Smoke and mirrors," a sales VP concedes, are what keep prices at $30 and up. (More HarperCollins stories.)